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Overview

"This book is about succeeding—and surviving—even being happy, in a society where every card seems stacked against you. If this is a fair world, Bebe Moore Campbell will be remembered as the most important African-American novelist of this century—except for, maybe, Ralph Ellison and James Baldwin."—Carolyn See, Washington Post Book Review

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Product Details

About the Author

Bebe Moore Campbell was a bestselling author and a journalist. Her nonfiction work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Ms., Essence, Black Enterprise, Ebony, Working Mother, USA Weekend, and Adweek, among other publications. She was a regular contributor to National Public Radio.

Bebe Moore Campbell was the author of such national, critically acclaimed bestsellers as Brothers and Sisters, Singing in the Comeback Choir, Your Blues Ain't Like Mine, and What You Owe Me as well as the award-winning children’s book, Sometimes My Mommy Gets Angry and the recently published Stompin’ at the Savoy.

Campbell was born and grew up in Philadelphia and graduated from the University of Pittsburgh, where she earned a bachelor of science degree in elementary education. She taught elementary and middle school for five years. She is survived by her husband, Ellis Gordon, Jr., her daughter, the actress Maia Campbell, and a son, Ellis Gordon III.

Editorial Reviews

Further demonstrating the authoritative grasp of racial issues and the candid picture of African American life she brought to her first novel, Your Blues Ain't Like Mine , Campbell sets this story in Los Angeles during the aftermath of the Rodney King beating, the acquittal of the charged policemen and the subsequent riots. Her heroine, Esther Jackson--seemingly self-confident but quiveringly intense--has a good position as regional operations manager of a bank. Raised on Chicago's South Side, Esther has glass-ceilinged her way to a two-bedroom house in an L.A. suburb. But along with her success, Esther carries the contradictory burdens of compromise, determination and humiliation required of women of color who move up the corporate ladder. Campbell develops Esther's character by depicting her relationship with Tyrone, a man educationally, socially and economically ``beneath'' her; her growing friendship with white loan officer Mallory Post; the accusations surrounding her African American boss Humphrey's attempted rape of Mallory; the suspicions that her hiree, La Keesha, is stealing from inactive accounts at the bank. Esther learns about watching her own back while responding to the needs and realities of her friends' lives. Campbell's intriguing (if not always three-dimensional) cast of characters reveal the fears and hopes of people caught in a web of shrinking opportunities and institutionalized stereotypes of race, class and gender. Adroitly using the great racial divide of Los Angeles, this absorbing novel explores the intricacies of experience, knowledge and bias which perpetuate inequalities and segregated lives. 100,000 first printing; $150,000 ad/promo; first serial to Essence; audio rights to Audio Renaissance; BOMC and QPB main selections; author tour. (Sept.)

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

Set in Los Angeles after the Rodney King riots, this excellent novel explores both racial and sexual tensions. Campbell draws a realistic and evenhanded portrait of the conflicts experienced by characters of varied backgrounds. (LJ 8/94)

Library Journal

Brothers and sisters mostly refer to those of African American heritage, although this book will appeal to a wide audience. Focused around corporate banking in L.A., the story is about company relationships and people of color wanting to advance to positions they believe they have earned. Attractive, well-educated Esther Jackson, a manager, has a great deal of resentment toward privileged white men and women who she feels have an easier climb up the ladder of success. Still, she becomes close to her coworker, Mallory, who is white. Esther is also looking for Mr. Right, who must possess plenty of cash and credit cards, thus eliminating mail deliverer Tyrone, who adores her. Things get complicated when a new black employee appears to be Mr. Right--until he is more attracted to Mallory. False accusations of sexual harassment and theft are a large part of the story. Readers won't want to put this book down until the injustices are resolved. This novel is contemporary, with allusions to the atmosphere following the Rodney King incident and the L.A. riots.-Ginny Ryder, Lee High School, Springfield, VA

School Library Journal

If this is a fair world, Bebe Moore Campbell will be remembered as the most important African-American novelist of this centuryexcept for, maybe, Ralph Ellison and James Baldwin…She is smart enough to see everything and courageous enough to write it down.Washington Post Book World

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

This was a brilliantly written tome on a number of contemporary issuses told from the perspective of a women colliding with what it means to be professionally determined; female in a male dominated society; looking for the full - fulfillment of personal aspirations; amidist a backdrop of societal suspicions and individual apprehensiveness.Bebe Moore Campbell invested in the development of her characters so that the reader felt a "real" connection to who each represented - in this novel and her others. She was a great talented "gone too soon". She is missed.

SeriousGrace on LibraryThing

More than 1 year ago

Esther Jackson is trying to make a career for herself at a downtown Los Angeles bank right after the April 1992 riots. She currently works in middle management but dreams of climbing higher. She knows that because of the color of her skin she must work twice as hard as her white counterpart to climb the corporate ladder. Despite the unfairness of the situation Esther herself practices prejudices when it comes to relationships and friendships. Beyond skin color she screens for financial status. Her motto is "no romance without finance." But, when she allows herself to become friends with a white woman and finds herself dating a poor man things get complicated. In Brothers and Sisters you meet all kinds of characters with personal problems with society. The politics and backstabbing of all involved was fascinating. The entire story was a game of cat and mouse but exactly who was chasing who keeps you guessing.

Anonymous

More than 1 year ago

I was assigned to read this book for one of my college courses. It was a really great book. It was attention grabbing and kept me entertained the whole time. I think it is a great read if you want to become more aware of racial and gender related stereotypes! It also has a great story line and with some romance as well. I would highly recommend this book.

KC-Lewis

More than 1 year ago

I had this book well over a year before I even bothered to crack it open. At first glance I thought it would be a drag to get through. After reading the 1st two chapters, I was underwhelmed. However with further reading I became totally captured in the plot. I wondered what would be next for the main character Esther and her coworker Mallory. The plot really thickens when Humphrey shows up. By the end of the book I was really pleased and happy that I read it. This book however definitely appeals to a black audience. It is however not one of those "ghetto" novels, this book is for the more mature reader. It takes a dip into the life of an educated black woman living in Los Angeles, CA post LA-riots and the challenges she faces in her career.

Guest

More than 1 year ago

This book opened me up for the world that i am going to have to face in a couple of years and she told the truth about what is going on in the society and she pen pointed that when black people do get to their place in the world they forget about where they came from and in order to succeed you need to help your BROTHERS AND SISTERS and I would recomend this novel to anyone just a bit of advice you have to be committed and in the mood to read because the novel is long but I enjoyed it and will be moving on to another one of her novel.

Guest

More than 1 year ago

I highly recommend this novel to everyone. It accurately tells how life is for professional Blacks. I could not put this book down for a second. I passed this on to all my friends who loved it as well. I can't wait to read more of her work!

Guest

More than 1 year ago

BROTHERS AND SISTERS was, in my opinion, one of the LONGEST novels that I read in a long time. You had to get to the middle of the book to get to the start of the meat of the story, and so much time was dedicated to describing the characters that I felt too tired to finish at my regular book pace. This book was like being at work! Recommend to anyone who has a lot of time to kill.

Guest

More than 1 year ago

I enjoyed the book. There were some characters who were so real and some that made me so angry. There were also characters who I wish I knew. Overall, the plot was good. I would recommend this book to others.

Guest

More than 1 year ago

This book gives the true facts on what happens in the corporate world. I can really relate. I think Campbell gave a vivid portrayal of corporate America and black vs whites. The story was very interesting, although at some times, you have to skip through verses. I disliked the way that the black people were always looked up on as the criminals and thiefs, even though that's reality. This was fantastic and I will be rereading this soon.

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